Therapy ventricular fibrillation
Acute treatment: In case of ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation, resuscitation by electric shock is started immediately (defibrillation). Two plate electrodes are placed on the chest. In accordance with the ECG, direct current is delivered with an energy of 50 to max.
400 joules. The doctor can immediately recognize the success or failure by the ECG and the patient’s reaction. If unsuccessful, defibrillation is repeated twice and then again after administration of adrenalin and amidarone.
Recurrence prophylaxis: The implantation of an ICD (Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator) is primarily used to prevent recurrence. If ventricular fibrillation occurs as a result of an acute myocardial infarction (i.e. within 48 h after an infarction), recurrence prophylaxis is not necessary. In all other cases an ICD is implanted.
Prognosis
The highest survival rates are achieved in areas where lay defibrillators are publicly available.
All articles in this series: